Santiago’s Streak Would Go Into 1988

If Benito Santiago can extend his streak to the end of this season, to 36 games, it will officially carry over to 1988.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, baseball’s official statistical service, if Santiago passes Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game record (by hitting in the first 21 games of 1988), it would be DiMaggio who would be stuck with the qualifying asterisk.

Said Steve Hirdt, vice president of Elias: “Santiago’s would be a separate record, but it would still be the record for the longest streak, period. DiMaggio’s streak is considered the longest for one season . There’s been a lot of misinformation about this, and we wanted to clear it up.”

Discussion over Santiago’s streak, which reached 34 games Friday night against the Dodgers, has even caused Elias to add another record to next year’s books.

And Pete Rose is not going to like this: Wee Willie Keeler will hold the National League hitting streak record with 45 games, because he hit in one game in 1896 before going on his season-record 44-game streak in 1897. Rose’s 44 games in 1978 only tied the National League record for one season but continues to be the modern (post-1900) mark.